3/29/2018 Mistakes to Avoid When Planning Your Galapagos Trip of a Lifetime

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Mistakes to Avoid When Planning Your Galapagos Trip of a

Lifetime

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3/29/2018 Mistakes to Avoid When Planning Your Galapagos Trip of a Lifetime

https://www.quasarex.com/blog/planning-your-trip-of-a-lifetime-to-the-galapagos-islands 2/12

TheGalapagosIslandsisatripofalifetimethatactuallylivesuptoandsurpassesexpectations,andour30yearsofexperiencehaveallowedustoperfecttheartofadventuretraveltothisremotecornerofourworld.

Simplyput,itisthebestplaceintheworldtosafelygetup-closeto,andeveninteractwith,animalsinthewild.That’swhyit’ssoimportanttoavoidthecommonmistakessometravelersmakeintheplanningstagethatcanresultinanythinglessthanatripofalifetime.Beforeyoudecideontheidealtripforyou,wewouldliketoofferthisguidepastthosepitfallstomaximizeyourenjoymentoftheGalapagosIslandsandthoseamazinganimalencounters.

MakeSureYouKnowWhichGalapagosYouArePlanningtoVisit

97%ofthelandareaand100%ofthemaritimeareaoftheGalapagosIslandsiswithintheNationalPark.TheonlyplacesnotwithintheParkarethepopulationcenterswhereyouwill�indthehotels.Thereare70terrestrialvisitorsitesand75marinevisitorsitesthroughouttheNationalParkwheretravelersarepermittedtogoashoreorgosnorkelingtoseeanimalsupcloseintheirnaturalhabitat.Theonlywaytoaccessthegreatmajorityoftheselandingsitesisonaliveaboardvesselthattakesyouonacruisethroughislands.

3/29/2018 Mistakes to Avoid When Planning Your Galapagos Trip of a Lifetime

https://www.quasarex.com/blog/planning-your-trip-of-a-lifetime-to-the-galapagos-islands 3/12

Theonlywaytoaccessthegreatmajorityoflandingsitesisonaliveaboardvesselthattakesyouonacruisethroughislands.

Onlyahandfulloflandingsitesareaccessiblefromthehotelsandthisismostlybydayboat.AllthehotelscompeteforspacesonthedayboatsastherearemorehotelaccommodationsthantherearespacesonthedayboatsbecausefewboatsthatarepermittedtogointotheParkoperatedaytrips.IfyouareluckyenoughtogetadayboatoutintotheNationalPark,youstartyourdaybyhavingtotakeapowerboatridetothelandingsite.Thesecanbetwohourrideseachway.Notthatpleasantandreallyawasteofyourday.

Incontrast,thepermittedliveaboardyachtsarriveatyour�irstlandingsitebeforeyouwakeupandyou’llhavetheopportunitytogoashoreandvisittwodifferentsitesforupto2½hourseach,alongwithsnorkeling,kayakinganddinghyrides.Manyyachtsoffercabins,servicesandamenitiesequivalenttoGalapagoshotels.Thehotelsarebestforthosewhowanttostayonafterorarrivebeforetheircruiseforsomedivingordowntimeaswellasfamilieswithtoddlerstooyoungtotravelaboardtheyachts.

ThelessonhereisthatwhenyouseeahotelpackagethatseemstoogoodtobetrueitisbecauseyouarelikelytospendverylittletimewithintheGalapagosNationalParkseeingitsanimals.Thehotelsgiveyouaccesstotheporttowns,whicharesmallandcanbefun,buttheyarenotthekeyreasontheGalapagoshasbecomeapremierdestination.

Avariationonthisthemeisport-to-porttours.TheseareprovidedbyvesselsthatarenotpermittedtovisittheGalapagosNationalPark(https://www.quasarex.com/galapagos/the-galapagos-national-park)landingsites.Insteadtheyvisittheports,whicharealsothepopulationcenters.Ifyouraimistovisitpopulationcentersthisisagoodoption.

TakeCareBeforeYouBookYourAir

TheGalapagosisadestinationwhereyouarefarbetteroffworkingoutwhatyouwanttodo�irst,andthenorganizingyour�lightsafterwards.Ifyouareplanningtotakeacruiseitisfarbettertoworkoutyourcruisedatesandavailabilitybeforeyoupurchaseyourinternationaltickets,andtoletthecruisecompanypurchaseyouticketsfromtheEcuadorianmainlandtotheGalapagosforyou.DoingsoinsuresyouarriveattherightairportintheGalapagosattherighttimetomakeittothestartofyourcruise.

3/29/2018 Mistakes to Avoid When Planning Your Galapagos Trip of a Lifetime

https://www.quasarex.com/blog/planning-your-trip-of-a-lifetime-to-the-galapagos-islands 4/12

SomeGalapagosdates,likeChristmasandEasterselloutyearsinadvance,whileotherdatesendupsoldoutwellbeforedeparture.

Travelersbookingtheirinternational�lights—or�lightsallthewaytotheGalapagos—beforetheyhaveworkedouttheirplansintheislands�irst,runintoanumberofproblems.SomeGalapagosdateslikeChristmasandEasterselloutyearsinadvance,whileotherdatesendupsoldoutwellbeforedeparture.Travelerswhopurchase�lightsbeforearrangingtheirGalapagosstaymaydiscoverthereisliterallynoroomattheinn(orontheyacht).Anothercommonerrorwhenbooking�lights�irstistodiscoverthatitishardto�itacruiseintothe�lightsyouhavebooked.Thecruisedatesoravailabilityofcabinsmaynotwork.Anothermistakesometravelersmakeistobook�lightsinandoutofBaltraIsland(https://www.quasarex.com/galapagos/islands/baltra)airportintheGalapagos,onlytodiscoverthatthecruiseleavesfromtheGalapagosIslands’otherairportinSanCristobal(https://www.www.quasarex.com/galapagos/islands/san-cristobal).

Galapagoscruisevesselsmustfollowapermitteditineraryde�inedbytheGalapagosNationalPark,soatsomepointtheyachtshavetostarttheiritineraryandtheycan’twaitforastragglerwhowastryingtobecleverbybookinghisorherown�lightsseparatefromtherestofthegroup.Catchingupwithacruisecanbeexpensiveandsometimesimpossible.ThatiswhyitisbettertorelyonthecruisecompanytopurchaseyourGalapagos�lights.ThatisalsowhymanycruisecompaniesrequirepassengerstobookGalapagos�lightswiththecruisecompany.Evenifyouplantostayatahotelrememberthatmanyofthehotelsnowrequiremulti-daystaysandtheyalsogetblockedoutinadvance.Sodecidingongoingthehotelroutedoesnotinsureimmunityfromproblemswhenyoudecidetobookyour�lights�irst.Agoodcruisecompanywillallowyoutoplaceacourtesyholdonyourcabinswhileyouarrangeinternational�lights.

ThetriedandtruemethodistoworkoutyourplansintheGalapagosIslands�irstandthenbookyour�lightsaroundthemandallowyourcruisecompanytobookyour�lightstoandfromtheGalapagosIslands.

SoLittleTimeSoTakeAllYouCan

ProbablythebiggestmistakeatravelercanmakewhenvisitingtheGalapagosissimplynotleavingenoughtimetoseeit.Formostpeopleit’salongwaytogotogettotheGalapagos.Boththe�irstdayyoutraveltotheGalapagosandthedayyoureturntothemainlandaredowndays.So,forexample,ifyouplantospend4daysintheGalapagosyouarereallyspending2andabitdaysintheislands.

Experienceshowsthatan8Day/7Nighttripisjustrighttomaximizeamazinganimalencounters,balancedwithoptimalrelaxation.

3/29/2018 Mistakes to Avoid When Planning Your Galapagos Trip of a Lifetime

https://www.quasarex.com/blog/planning-your-trip-of-a-lifetime-to-the-galapagos-islands 5/12

RememberthattheGalapagosisreallynotabouttheporttownsortheairports,it’sabouttheanimalsandtheNationalPark,soduringthosetwodaysleftyouhadbetterhaveworkedouthowtogetintothePark.Ifyouroptionisadayboatthatmeansyouwilltypicallygettovisitonelandingsiteperday,oryoucancombineonelandingsitewithavisittoseethetortoiseinthewild.Rightaboutthetimeyouarestartingtorelaxandwantingtostaylonger,youwillrealizejusthowmanyamazingexperiencesarewaitingforyouthroughoutthearchipelago…andthenyouwillhavetoleave.Experienceshowsthatan8day/7nightcruiseisjustrighttomaximizeamazinganimalencountersbalancedwithoptimalrelaxation.Forrealanimalenthusiastsyoucanstayonthesamecruisevesselforanotherweekand,sincevesselscannotreturntothesamelandingsiteforafortnight,itmeansyouwillgettoseeallnewlandingsites!

GalapagosWildernessvs.CrowdedBeach

OneofthethingsthatmakestheIslandssospecialisthattheyareatruemarinewilderness.TheGalapagosNationalParkisdoingmoretokeepitthatway.TolightentheenvironmentalimpactonitslandingsitestheParknowrequiresvesselstowait14daysbeforereturningtothesameNationalParklandingsite.ThispolicyhashadthepositiveeffectofdispersingvesselsmoreevenlythroughouttheParkwithfewercrossover.

Asaresult,youhavethefeelingofhavingtheGalapagosmoretoyourself…thatisunlessyoubringthecrowdalongwithyoubytravelingonavesselcarrying50to100passengers.Whenyoulandonawildernessbeachwiththatmanypassengers,itishardtocallitawildernessbeachanymore.Atthatpointitbecomesabeachwithalotofpeopleonit.Mostlandingsitesoffertrailsofroughlyamileandahalftotwomilesand,nomatterhowyoudividetheselargergroups,youcannotavoidacrowdwhenyoubringitwithyouoneverylandingsite.

Doyoureallywanttowaitinlineonanaturetrailtoseebluefootedboobiesdoingtheirmatingdanceorconstantlyvieforpositiontogetthephotoyouwant?Doyouwanttogosnorkelingwithmorepeoplethanwouldbeconsideredacceptableinacrowdedclassroom?

Basicstakelongerinlargergroups.Morepassengerstranslatesintomoretimewaitingforfood,puttingonwet-suitsandwaitingtoboarddinghies.ExtratimespentonlogisticsandlecturestranslatesintolesstimespentenjoyingtheGalapagosanditsamazinganimals.

TheonlywaytoencountercrowdsintheGalapagosisbybringingthemwithyou.YoucanavoidallthatandenjoyanauthenticexperienceoftheGalapagoswildernessbytravelingonayachtthatcarriesfewerpassengers.

Mistaketoavoid:ToavoidcrowdsintheGalapagosavoidyachtsthatcarryacrowd,asthatistheonlywayyouwillencountertheminthearchipelago.

3/29/2018 Mistakes to Avoid When Planning Your Galapagos Trip of a Lifetime

https://www.quasarex.com/blog/planning-your-trip-of-a-lifetime-to-the-galapagos-islands 6/12

GreatGuideorLostSoul

AkeycomponenttoexperiencingtheGalapagoswildernessisyourGalapagosNationalParkGuide.Ifyougettherightguidetheywillbecomeyourhero(nokidding).Thebestofthesenotonlyhavedegreesinenvironmentalsciences,aretopnotcheducators(tothepointyoufeelyouarebeingentertained),andareona�irstnamebasiswithalltheGalapagosanimals(https://www.quasarex.com/galapagos/animals-and-wildlife)youwillmeet,theyareconsummatehostswholovetoshowyou,theirguest,theirGalapagoshome.ThecounterpointisaguidewhospeakspoorEnglish,doesn’tknowtheirstuffandislostwhenitcomestounderstandingwhatitmeanstobeaconsummatehost.Makesureyoulookforyachtsthatworkwiththebestguides.Howdoyoudothat?Seekoutthetypeofvesselsthatattractthebestguides.Don’tbefooledbyquantityofguides,overconsistencyofqualityguideseither,asyouwillsurely�indyourselfcompetingtobewiththegoodguideoverthemediocreguidesalongwitheveryoneelseonyouvessel.

Thinkaboutit,ifyouareatopguideandcanliveonanyyachtintheGalapagosIslandswhichwouldyoupick?Thebestguidesliveandworkonthebestyachtsbecausetheycan.Askforcustomercommentsonguides.

Mistaketoavoid:Ifyouwereagreatguide,wouldyouchooseaboattoworkonjustbecauseitischeaper?Theanswerissimple:Greatguidesworkonthebestyachts.

It’sNotAbouttheBoatbuttheBoatMustBeAbouttheGalapagos

3/29/2018 Mistakes to Avoid When Planning Your Galapagos Trip of a Lifetime

https://www.quasarex.com/blog/planning-your-trip-of-a-lifetime-to-the-galapagos-islands 7/12

Finally,whileit’snotallabouttheboat,thebestGalapagosyachtsrecognizethattheirjobistocomplimenttheexperienceyouareenjoyingintheGalapagosNationalParkwildernessandnottheotherwayaround.RememberthattheGalapagosisallaboutgettingoutintotheNationalParkandupclosetotheanimalsasoftenaspossibleandnotaboutsittinginanonboardlecturehallwithlotsofotherpassengers.Youdon’tneedtogototheGalapagostositandlistentoalecture.Acompetentinterpretivenaturalistguidewillprovideyouwithallkindsofinterestingandentertaininginformationintheopenairclassroomofthearchipelago.Thebestyachtsaredesignedtomaximizethatexperience.

YouryachtistheretogiveyouaccesstotheNationalPark,andthebestyachts,liketheGalapagos,areunique.TheyprovideplentyofspaceoutdoorsandundershadefromwhichyoucanenjoythatrelaxingGalapagosclimateratherthanencasingyoubehindsmokedglass.Ifitlookslikea�loatingbudgetmotelitlikelyisone.Thebestyachtsareone-of-a-kindthatarespeci�icallycon�iguredtomaximizeyourenjoymentofthesurroundingGalapagosenvironment,whilealsoprovidinganatmosphere,amenitiesandacrewthatmakesyoufeelrightathome.

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Hello!MynameisPaul.Iamaphotographer,traveler,teacherandwriter.IhaveextensiveexperienceintraveltoGalapagos,Peru,PatagoniaandthewesternseaboardofSouthAmericaspecializinginwaystravelerscanexperiencetheseonce-in-a-lifedestinationslikelocalsontheroad.Loverofwine,chocolate,travel,coffee,andhelpingothersplanvacationsofalifetime!

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Excellentinformation.MyhusbandandIareinthebeginningstagesofplanningourtriptotheGalapagos.Weappreciatethisinterestingarticle.

• Reply

MikeandJulieHarper• October24,2015at9:00pm(https://www.quasarex.com/blog/planning-your-trip-of-a-lifetime-to-the-galapagos-islands#comment-38)

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It’sanamazingplace.IhadreadaboutGalapagosIslandsanditanimals,butIneverimagineitwasgoingtobesuchaswonderexperience.BethandIneverexpectedtobelikethat,it’sthebestadventureweeverhad.

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DaniloMarceloGallo• July14,2013at11:39am(https://www.quasarex.com/blog/planning-your-trip-of-a-lifetime-to-the-galapagos-islands#comment-15)

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Excellentadvice!!Weareplanningforfamilytrip…..Iwillde�intelyconsidersomeoftheseplacesforsure.WhenPlanningYourGalapagosTrip,makesurethattheeveryonecomfortablyandtheluggageandthatit’singoodshape.

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stanleynicole3• July16,2014at1:18am(https://www.quasarex.com/blog/planning-your-trip-of-a-lifetime-to-the-galapagos-islands#comment-16)

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